I don't like the results

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#1 Post by **cdub2314** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:22 am

Hi, 4 months ago I had upper jaw surgery where they advanced my upper jaw forward to correct my underbite. However, so far I am unhappy with the way it makes my face look. Whenever I look straight into the mirror, it doesn't look that bad, but when i turn my head slightly to either side, my jaw looks like its sticking out. I think the problem is that my cheekbones are very flat, so my jaw appears to be protruding. At first I thought it was just the swelling, but I am already 4 months post op, and I doubt there is much more swelling to go down. If this is the case, I can't believe my orthognathic surgeon would suggest I do this, it looks awful. Maybe if I had cheekbone implants it would look slightly better. Can i expect my face to change more over the next couple months or am I doomed to live with my surgeon's poor decision?

#2 Post by **Kerry** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 3:27 pm

do you have any pictures, sometimes big changed take a while to get used to and even at 4 months im betting there is still a hell of alot of swelling left which you dont realise.

Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:37 pm

You know this is exactly how I feel after my surgery. I had upper jaw surgery to correct an underbite as well and I know what you mean. It looks like my face was just pushed forward too far and now my nose sticks out as well. I can feel screws under my eye sockets on one side but not the other... I wonder if my surgeon added bone up there from my hip, I think I'm going to make another appointment and find out. In my opinion, I think jaw surgery is really unnecessary for most people. People have been living with over/underbites for ages. In my opinion, straight teeth are not worth this drastic step. Unfortunately, I have to live with my choice and how people's opinions of me have changed for the rest of my life. Hardly anyone I've known before the surgery recognizes me and looking at pictures of myself I can understand why. I wish I had never done the surgery, and now I'm developing some tmj problems... but my teeth are straight! But talk to your surgeon and maybe your swelling will still go down. Mine lasted about a year.

Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:36 pm

Meryaten wrote:Don't forget too, that for many of us, we're either happier with our new appearance, or at least not unhappy with it.

And then there are those among us who are realising benefits beyond a better bite - folks who are either waving goodbye to the obstructive sleep apnea that has plagued them for years, or who are seeing benefits in better TMJ function (and reduced pain).

I realise that you are unhappy with your results, and for you the benefits simply do not justify for you your unhappiness with the changes to your appearance. But this is simply not true for the majority of us.

I understand doing surgery for those reasons, but in my case it was to have straight teeth(braces) and a perfect bite. Although now I am developing a tmj problem because my left jaw joint now clicks and pops when I chew ( a problem I didn't have before), I also have permanent numbness on my upper gums. I think jaw surgery was unnecesarily suggested in mycase, I think I could have lived normally with an underbite. Although this might not be true for everyone, I think if anyone is considering this surgery they should get as much info as possible and really weigh the risks with the benefits.

Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:55 pm

Meryaten wrote:I'm more distressed though that you say your TMJ is in worse shape post-op. Have you discussed/did you discuss that with your ortho and OS?

I went for a post op check up about 2 months after my surgery with the OS. That was about 2 years ago. Since then, I made an appointment about a month ago to get some clarification on what exactly was done to my jaw(although now I have more questions). It was kind of odd, the OS seemed kind of confused as to why I had these questions 2 years post-op and he seemed kind of indifferent, but the truth is I'm having trouble dealing with having had this surgery and I just wanted some re-assurance. I think I'm going to make another appointment with the OS and ask for an x-ray and tell him about the tmj problems I've been having.
The thing is, I had my initial consult when I was about 15 years old and the surgeon came up to me, looked at my face for about 30 seconds and said, "Yep, we'll be moving your upper jaw forward and you'll have more cheeks" and then I watched a 5 minute video. 2 years later I was in the hospital sighning consent forms and talking to the surgeon(the second time I've ever met him) and I was ready to go. Reflecting on this, I feel like I wasn't properly informed and I was young/stupid enough to go through with this without proper information/research done on my part. I now regret it. Although I had x'rays/moulds done prior ot surgery I don't think enough consideration went into the aesthetic apect of how the surgery would turn out. Personally I think I should have had upper and lower surgery, and I think my lower jaw might have grown from age 15-17 changing the results. I did some research since the surgery on my surgeon and he actually has a D.M.D. and M.D. in diagnostics and biology and teaches at the local university. Still, I feel he did not thoroughly evaluate my particular case. What should I consider doing?

#6 Post by **Kerry** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 7:48 am

I really wanted straight teth but i also hated my side profile and by having the surgery i think i would look more defined and not so chiled like plus the fact i will have a nice straight smile so hopefully my surgery is less complex than what yours was and im guessing the end result wouldnt look so drastic either.

#7 Post by **fromjersey** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:24 am

cdub: I really find it impossible to talk about an appearance that is unsatisfying without seeing what you mean. Can you possibly post a photo? A pic is worth a thousand words. I think there is good rason why most oral surgeons take before and aafter photos. I'm one of the satisfied customers and I think this is measurable and objective. So I think there is a point where the personal opinion and the scientific come together.
Helen